New-York tribune., 1887-05-16
PASS THE TEDDER BILL.

The Vedder bill will come up in the Assem-
| bly, tomorrow. There should he no doubt OF
its majority. No Republican who voted for the
Crosby bill can have any valid reason for voe-
ing against this measure. Objections have
been raised to It, but they are insncere, disln-
genuons and fallacious. Here is bill which,
according to the sOundest estimates las shoT
in our correspondents letter Of the 11th in
stant), will produce a new revenue to the State
of between S3, 900, coo and 81, 100000 1t is
bill which will reduce taxation and at the
same time restrict intemperance. 1t will COM
pei those who promote drunkenness to pay Tor
the results of their work. In its moral bearing
1t is thoroughly sound and wholesome. In its
fiscal bearing it commends itself TO every
rational mind 1t has been said that 1t does
New York injustice. No objection could be
flimsier or more perverse. 1t leaves New
York all the benefits of the existing excise
laws, and in addition turns in practically a
fresh million and half to the city treasury.
The claim that New York ought to have all the
proceeds of the tax is invalid. 1t is no more
tenable than would be the claim that New
York should take the entire proceeds of the
tax on National banks or other corporations.
The city under the Vedder bill will have its
full share of the tax and will reap large and
sufficient benefits from the measure.
1t is not more true that the inequality
of taxation proposed is Objectionable. All
forms of taxa ton, and especially OF Liquor tax
atiOn, present appearances of inequality, but
these are the result of really equitable distrib-
utiOn. Nothing could be more inequitable than
to tax a city and a country saloon exactly
alike. What would be ruin to the latter would
not be felt by the former Population and
business opportunities must be taken into
account, and these necessitate graduated rates
of taxation. The principle is common and
fully recognized aud the objection of no weight.
If saloons must be taxed at the same rate all
over the State, why should not land be Likewise
taxed equally-an acre on Manhattan Island
and an acre in Franklin County precisely
alike 7 There is no reason why every Repub-
licaD member should not vote for the Vedder
bill, and there are twenty cOgent reasons why
they should stand together to pass it, Ger
tainly no country member can find any excuse
for refusing to vote for it which will satisfy his
constituents, and any vote cast against it by
such a member will inevitably be the subject
of an inquisitcn in his own district. More
over, the circumstances are such as to stimu-
late suspicion in snch a case. 1t is notorious
that the rumsellers have assembled a powerful
lobby at Albany. 1t is freely rumOred that
much money is at hand. 1t is equally well
known that Governor Hill is anxious to pre-
vent the passage of the bill, since he does not
want to be put in the predicament Of being un-
able to obey the rumsellers save by often ding
all the people of the country districts. These
facts afford abundant ground for vigilance
ard for crcumspection on the part of the
members. The Vedder bill is a just, benefcent
and in all ways desirable measure. No objec-
tion Of the least gravity will lie against it.
The Republican members cannot avoid respOn-
sibility for its fate. 1t is their duty to
pass it. They have the power. And their
constituents will not accept as honest
any plea put forward to excuse faithlessness
to this obligation. The man who could vote
for the Crosby bill aud cannot vote for the
Vedder bill is man who can spend the rest of
his life making explanations, without satisfy
ing anybody. He may do it to please the
lobby; or he may do it to please Governor
Hill he cannot do it to please or to represent
| his constitu eDts.